Olympic Athletes Banned From Political Demonstrations On Podium, IOC President: Respect Competitors!

Tokyo Olympics Illustration (Twitter @Tokyo2020)

JAKARTA - International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach said no single athlete should make a "political demonstration" or express their personal views on the podium while receiving a Tokyo Olympic medal.

The IOC this month relaxed Rule 50, which previously prohibited athletes from protesting of any kind, by allowing them to make moves on the court, as long as they are not disruptive and respectful of their fellow competitors.

However, the threat of sanctions remains if there is a demonstration on the podium during the Olympics, which will be held on July 23-8 August.

"Podiums and medal ceremonies are not made ... for political demonstrations or otherwise," Bach said.

"The podium and the ceremony were created to honor athletes and medal winners for their sporting achievements, not their personal (views).

"The mission is to unite the whole world in one place and compete peacefully with each other. This would never have happened if the Olympics had been divided," he added.

While athlete protests at the Olympics were rare, at the 1968 Mexican Olympics, black US sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos were sent off after they bowed their heads and raised black-gloved fists on the podium to protest racial inequality.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Ethiopian marathon runner Feyisa Lilesa raises her arms and crosses her wrists as she crosses the finish line to show her support for the Oromo people's protests over the government's plan to relocate farmland.

England's women's soccer coach Hege Riise said Thursday his players will kneel before the games at the Tokyo Olympics to raise awareness about racism and all forms of discrimination.

The kneeling movement was a form of protest that was first initiated by former American Football (NFL) quarterback Colin Kaepernick, and was later followed by the Black Lives Matter mass movement.